And welcome back it is the WXCO warning reports part of morning to the pack right low on ninety eight point nine WXCO online at WXCO dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app I am Chad Holmes will be joined by Ian Welsh in just a few minutes, but as we get towards the
later portion of the month.
We always get an opportunity to talk about what's going on at the Sustainability Energy and Environment Committee in the City of Los.
I'm always very happy to welcome
Christine Daniels to be part of the discussion.
Christine, good morning.
Good morning, Chad.
And I know you were very excited.
I'm very excited as well, because we have a gentleman as well, Jordan Kaiser from North Wind Solar, who we were hoping to talk to about last month, but very happy that Jordan is able to come on by and talk as well.
Jordan, good morning to you.
Good morning.
Thanks for having me.
Let's talk about.
Where should we start?
Because actually, I want to start maybe with, if it's okay, Christine, we'll talk about specifics going on with Jordan and Solar and everything else.
But Jordan, I wanted to ask you a little bit about working in Solar.
Because obviously, you, as part of North Wind Solar, could you explain what North Wind Solar is?
Then I'll ask you multiple questions at the same
time.
Absolutely.
Northman Solar is a design and installation contractor based out of Amherst, Wisconsin.
We've first opened our doors in 2007.
So we've been installing solar power systems for homes and businesses for over 18 years at this point.
We're also a worker-owned cooperative.
So while we're a small company of about 36 people, about half of us are member owners of the company, which sort of democratizes how we do business and really gives everybody a voice within our company.
also incentivizes us to go the extra mile for our projects and our people.
Really starting from initial consultations and conversations with myself and some of my sales and design colleagues, but through the design and installation and service of your system, your projects being led by owners of Northwind Solar.
Again, we see that as a way to better serve our clients' health and make us a more successful company.
We were talking before we went on the air.
mentioned in that last answer, and you mentioned it as well in our discussion about the democratization of certain parts of our lives and energy being one of those.
And it sounds as though within your, I would call it mission statement, that is a big factor, isn't
it?
100%.
Yeah, we see the way we consume electricity these days through the usual utility model is that utilities are
one of the only and maybe the only natural monopoly we experienced in our lives that
being a rate pair of a utility, not a customer rate pair.
You have one electrical line that comes into your home or your apartment or wherever it is you live.
And you either choose to pay that bill every month and you keep your lights on.
And if you don't, they shut you off.
You don't really have a choice of where you're getting that electricity from.
You don't have a choice of what you're going to pay for that electricity.
Again, you pay the bill.
If you don't, you're shut off.
Installing solar for your home or business provides you a certain level of energy independence in that you can install solar.
It's an appreciating investment.
It has an internal rate of return, which is a point of cost recovery over time.
Ultimately, you'll pay less for the net cost of your solar power system than you will for the equivalent amount of energy you'll pay the utility over that time.
So that's one way you provide yourself with an option or a choice of what you're going to pay for electricity.
Not only are you paying less for solar power for your home or business, but you're also reducing and eliminating carbon emissions from how we generate electricity these days, whether that's by way of coal-fired power plants, natural gas, and what have you.
So there's a lot of benefits to solar power and really making your mark, not only with saving money for your home, generating revenue.
but also the impact you're making on our environment.
And Christine, we've talked in the
past about how at The Good News Project that you've gone in this direction.
from what you've told me that no regrets at all.
No regrets at all.
No, we ended up adding that to our capital campaign a couple of years ago.
And that's how I know Jordan is through that whole process.
And it was such a seamless process from beginning to end with how we were educated about it and how we were able to fundraise for it.
And, you know, right up front, we were told about the different rebates that we could make use of during the process.
all of which have come to fruition since the installation.
And I'm always excited to say that we had a utility bill come in for one month at minus $1.65.
Not too
bad.
I know.
And touching a little further on that, Christine mentioning how there's no regrets at all.
I've been working in clean energy since about 2010.
So I'm going on 15 plus years at this point and of all the customers we've had over the air hundreds and hundreds of customers I've never had any regrets.
We have nothing but happy customers What I hear frequently though is that a the customer saying after the system has been completing installed and maybe they've generated electricity for a while That they wish they've done this sooner
and B, they wish they would have installed more solar,
or that
they want to install more solar.
It's a really fulfilling piece of equipment or appliance for your home or business that you see little by little, how much electricity you're generating, you see your bill at the end of the month or the pay period, and really as the sun is shining, it brings a bigger smile to your
face.
for people that have not dealt with it.
Certainly.
Yeah, you know, there's a lot of folks these days that like to be right instead of getting it right.
A lot of folks are a contrarian for their own personal reasons and really have no knowledge to the technology or how it all works for a home or business.
We certainly live in an interesting day or an age, but what I will say is that our clientele is composed not only of, say, left-leaning folks and eco-minded folks, environmentalists, if you will, but also folks that are on the more conservative side of the aisle, free market folks who, again, as mentioned earlier,
like to decide how much they're gonna pay for electricity, like the idea of energy independence, doing things on their own, the DIY folks, those free market folks who believe in doing things themselves and really saving money so they can do other things with it going forward.
I'd say probably a good 40 to 45% of our clients are actually conservative, leaning folks.
So this is one thing amongst many in our society that where we can't really agree on much, this is one thing that sort of spans that proverbial aisle and really appeals to the ecosystem.
reminded folks as well as conservative leading folks.
We will have more with Jordan Kaiser and Christine Daniels in just over 20 minutes at about 7.52 this morning.
So more solar power talk coming up in just a few minutes.
Back to pack right low coming up after an information update here on 98.9 WXCO.
WXCO morning report on 98.9 WXCO.
I am Chad Holmes as we continue to talk solar energy this morning.
Again, we're talking to Jordan Kaiser from North Wind Solar and Christine Daniels from the Wasab Sustainability Energy and Environment Committee.
Let's connect the two hats that you're wearing here for the solar energy and the committee.
Why is the committee involved in this?
Sure.
So I actually joined the committee a little over a year ago from the very beginning of my time in there.
There had already been
a solar task force that was basically commissioned by the mayor at the time to discover what it would take to put solar in various parts of the city.
They landed on large solar array on the land next to water treatment facility.
Basically it would, the study pretty much said that if they run the water treatment facility a little bit different, like right now a lot of things are happening at night, but if they're doing a
during the day and making use of the solar energy that's coming through, it would
basically run the water treatment facility.
So it gives the city more independence, gives everyone who's using water from the city of Wausau more independence and reliability.
So right now it's at, it's being discussed quite a bit and it's one of the capital projects that's being pushed and heavily proposed.
I asked whether it's through the finance committee, but there is a plan over for it to be built over a two year period of time.
And right now it's more about watching the IRA.
rebate which you can correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like that in by July of 2026 that might be pulled back.
I'm not sure if you have any more recent knowledge of that Jordan but we're trying to at least get the project started in time for us to be able to it would be about a million dollars that we could get in the rebate.
And Jordan it sounds as though this is just one area that within communities here in Central Wisconsin that you're working with and working on.
Could you maybe share a few of the
different projects that you're looking at?
Yeah, absolutely.
So as mentioned, we're based out of Amherst.
We first opened our doors in Stevens Point, but now our headquarters is in Amherst.
So we generally work about 90 minutes of home.
We're fortunate enough to have a high volume of work that keeps us relatively close to home.
Years ago, when I first got in the industry, we're traveling statewide as far north as Bayfield Ashland, as far south as most south of Madison, the Milwaukee area, so on and so forth.
So a lot of our work keeps us close to home.
We have a fair amount of projects over the years.
that we've done in the Wasa area, not only just a number of residential projects, but also, as Christine mentioned, for the Good News Project, we put in a system for community partners' campus down Grand Avenue a couple of fall seasons ago.
We're currently building a system for the Ribb Mountain Wastewater Facility, and there's a number of other projects in the works as well.
So there has been high interest in solar in the Wasa area for a long time.
We've been fortunate enough to work on a few of them, and there's a lot of potential going forward, even looking at the wastewater facility for the city of Wasa next year.
with regards to the IRA incentive, the 30% elective pay, the way to secure that, and really it's a contingency based on where equipment is sourced from, what's called FIAC, or Foreign Entities of Concerned, that's been identified through the budget bill in this administration earlier this year, is that if there is equipment sourced from places that are identified as FIAC, then the project would be ineligible for the 30% tax credit.
So there are ways to qualify within that, making sure equipment sourced in the right places, and ultimately wanting
to get it started before the middle of next year.
So all of that can happen.
It sounds like it's a big project, so things want to get going to secure that incentive.
Nonetheless, the solar industry, as long as I've been in it, has always done its best to source of equipment from US manufacturing.
For many years, we had solar panels or modules that were assembled and manufactured here in the US, as well as solar inverters, our ground racking systems, roof racking systems, and a lot of the electrical equipment, even source assembled and or manufactured here in the States.
I've never seen an industry try to align with US manufacturing.
more than the solar industry has historically over the years, certainly more than other industries that we work with every day.
And solar will continue to do that.
I think there are good things that have come out of things like the budget bill, whereas we want to keep that focus.
We hope that that same onus is put on other industries as well
and
holding those industries accountable to bring things into U.S.
manufacturing.
We don't see that just yet.
I think solar is sort of on the outside of it and it's had a target on its back since this administration has taken office nonetheless.
The solar industry has and will continue to do its best to source things out of the US.
Well, I guess the door has been opened a little bit, so let's walk through it.
Is there concern whether through the governmental aspect of it, with you, Christine, and the committee, and the city of Wausau, and other governmental entities, and also within the solar industry itself?
I mean, Jordan, what we've heard, the rhetoric, and also beyond the rhetoric, the actual legislation, is there a reason to be worried that we're pushing backwards?
instead of pushing forward when it comes to potential opportunities when it comes to alternative energy sources.
I guess, let me start with you, Christine.
Is there concern that, holy cow, we have these plans out we think would be really good for the community and our governmental entities?
Is there worries that, holy cow, there's some opportunities against the Puelano?
You know, I'm actually less worried right now from my last two meetings that I've attended with the Sustainability Committee.
It's been more and more positive in terms of we think this is going to happen.
So if anything, I'm more positive, but I know there is this time crunch here that.
you know, that things really have to start moving.
So if there's any concern, it's about getting this done through all of the committees before it's too late.
And Gordon, generally for North Wind Solar, when you see the discussions that are going on, I imagine there's a little tension involved
there.
Yeah, to start the year and coming into April and the announcement of the budget bill and what is and isn't in it, certainly it was jarring.
It caused a certain level of anxiety and certainly worry as we thought about our business.
this going forward, not only through this year, but forthcoming years.
But I think since then, we've sort of gotten our feet under us.
We've gotten a better understanding as to what the federal government is requiring of our industry.
And we share that same optimism.
We're excited about the future.
We have a lot of work through this year and into next year.
There's plenty of potential as our country continues to electrify more.
I think with some things, with regards to incentives going away for homes and or businesses, you know, one thing that's kind of frustrating over the years is that we watch
Traditional fuel companies continue to receive significant tax incentives from the federal government in the form of billions and billions of dollars So if you want to take it away from one energy sector being clean energy solar and wind We should even that out across the board and we'll see where
the
chips fall Tax bears are funding very profitable companies.
They have for many many decades and It's a government that wants to continue to prop that up nonetheless.
There's plenty of opportunity for companies like ours to be doing business as we
look forward.
And we're excited about that.
We will have a few more minutes with Jordan Kaiser and Christine Daniels at 822.
So again, at 822 more, and we'll finish up this conversation.
But we have an information update coming up next.
And then more of Mornings with Pac Brightlow today from Wisconsin Rapids on 98.9 WXCO.
It is the WXO morning report on 98.9 WXO online at WXO dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching at WXO.
I am Chad Holmes
Again, we're talking to Jordan Kaiser from North Wind Solar and Christine Daniels from the Oasis Sustainability, Energy and Environment Committee.
Let's take another step back.
We're talking again about the governmental entities, but again, for folks out there that are tuned in, and I think we kind of touched on this when we discussed earlier with you, Christine.
about people who are thinking about trying to take those first steps to think about, hey, maybe there's some opportunities, so not just for the environment, but personally, because again, in terms of energy costs and just doing the right thing, what are the first steps that maybe the average individual out there should be thinking about?
Yeah, absolutely.
The first thing to do is contact us at Northwind.
He certainly can call us, but to expedite estimate packages and site visits and designs, things like that is to log on to our website.
which is northwindre.com.
You can easily request an estimate by way of our website.
And our sales team will get a hold of you to begin the process from there.
We do a lot of work for folks free of charge.
We
don't ask for a dime until we're actually signing contracts.
So whether it's for your home or business, we're going to kind of go to the extra mile to not only give you estimates and show you what might work for your building, but also find the best solution for your home or business.
Because one thing we want to do is right size these systems to your home to fit your...
not only how much energy you want to produce or there by offset, but also to fit your budget.
This can all be tailored to fit what you need.
And again, we're all about finding the right solution for your home or business and installing a high-performing quality solar power system.
Let me ask you a question that sort of, I think, broadens out to your mission.
Because talking to you again before we went on the air and just hearing what you just said now that you do work with folks is not about, you know, once you get in there, you're going to
lock the door and make sure you get that signed contract
before
all of a sudden done.
But it seems like this is more than just.
you know, trying to be a profit-based business and that that there is a calling for what you're doing.
Where did this come from?
I guess your your thought process and where how you got into this in the way that you have got into this because obviously in some businesses, it's all about the bottom line.
And then there's nothing wrong.
I think, you know, making sure our business is sustainable and all that.
But this seems like it's more than that to you.
Really is, you know, our company started as a value-driven business based and focused around and
within our community of trying to.
provide clean energy solutions to really address climate change at a local level as best we could.
And our focus always has been on quality installations.
We were in the market far earlier than most companies we compete with.
As mentioned earlier, we're over 18 years old.
So we saw the market even before it got busy.
Some days it was pretty quiet.
We were waiting for
the phone
to ring.
But that's really how we got our feet wet and cut our teeth and learned how to do things well and make a good business out of what we're doing.
what we're doing.
So it is really value based and mission focused on what we're trying to do on a larger level, but focusing that here locally.
We have a lot of folks who are working to get within trades.
We have apprentice journeymen and master electricians on staff certified installers.
So when you come to work at North and really the intent is bring somebody through the doors and help them grow with the company and really make it a family atmosphere.
So it's more than just about profit while we need to be profitable to stay in business.
and be a company.
It's not just that.
There's a lot of values that we want aligned with how we do business.
And Christine, for those folks out there again who may be thinking about getting involved, you obviously got involved and you started the process.
Can you maybe take yourself back to where the beginning, maybe what got you thinking in this direction and then maybe...
something you found out in this process that maybe people should know about?
Sure.
Well, first of all, I can just affirm that, you know, the way that they do that, you know, giving you as much information as possible before you're at that contract signing phase, it was a really positive experience for us.
I do not like pushy salespeople.
I'm like the last person who like, jump on board with something like that.
You've
told me a story or two about that.
But I never felt pushed.
And I think it's because we're the ones who went to them and said, we want to
learn more.
And they helped that education process take place.
And even to the point where, you know, our board, of course, has to approve it because we have a board of directors.
It's a nonprofit organization.
And, you know,
we asked Jordan if he would be willing to come to a board meeting just to answer questions because there's still so much unknown and people not really understanding the process or why it's good for us, you know, from a financial perspective.
And so he attended the board meeting and answered questions and that gave us the confidence to be like, yeah, we want to do this.
And we, we want to do it so much that we're going to add it to our capital campaign right now and get this paid for up front, right, with donation with donor dollars so that our organization can reap the
benefits for the next 25, 30 years.
We got about two minutes to go.
What are we missing in this discussion?
Because there's so many levels, and probably could be talking for many, many more minutes.
But unfortunately, we're limited here this morning.
What else do we need to know?
This is what we need to know.
If you're interested in the city of Wasim moving forward with solar, contact your alder.
that are representing you and let them know that this is important to you.
Show up at city council meetings at the end of August, September.
These are the important months right now to let your voice be heard so that people know that you want this.
And Jordan, I think one final thing, again, something you said to me before we started that.
Affordable energy is a right.
You believe that, don't you?
Absolutely.
Our lives run on energy.
We need electricity to live, to do business, to go about our lives.
And I believe it's a human right to have that be affordable for everybody.
Electrical rates through the utility over the past decade have gone up nearly 30%.
That's not fair to folks who may be on a budget and are trying to find ways to reduce costs in their lives.
So I think solar is a great way for folks to explore locking in those variable costs long term, making a good energy investment in their lives and be more equitable and democratizing how we're using energy and living our lives in the society.
Fantastic.
Again, very interesting stuff indeed.
On our show notes, we'll put a link to your site so people have more questions, can reach out and learn more.
Again, learn more, that's the thing.
Like you said, no, no, you're not gonna lock the door behind them and
say you're not leaving for a
contract assigned by, I think it's vitally important for us to learn more.
Educate yourself.
Exactly.
But Jordan Kaiser, thank you for coming on in.
Thank you so much for having us.
Christine Daniels, a pleasure as always.
Yes, thank you.
The time is 8.29.
Got an information update coming up, followed by more of warnings with Pat Brightlow.
Again, Pat live today from Wisconsin Rapids.
That's straight ahead here on 98.9
WXCO.
Morning once again everyone.
The time is 8.53.
Currently 68 degrees under cloudy skies in downtown Wausau.
I am Chad Holmes.
It is the WXCO Morning Report here on 98.9 WXCO.
Online at wxco.fm mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
Also with us is Ian Welsh.
Ian, good morning.
Good morning Jen.
Well tonight from 6 till 8 p.m.
Make sure you all tune in.
It is the return of the big high school sports show right here on 98.9 WXCO online as well.
Yep, it's that time of year as we start off our coverage of high school athletics.
So we have the big high school sports show during the fall and winter sports seasons.
Yes, the fall sports season, even though we are still in the midst of summer.
But tonight I will be joined by Wasselweth, former Wasselweth High School football coach, Jason Foster.
He is my co-host for the football season.
We will talk about week one of the high school football season.
We will look at the conferences that we keep an eye on here in
Central, Wisconsin and also we have each week special guests every week we bring a area head coach and also an area student athlete and Tonight our coach guest will be from Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School Mike Crens.
He is the
First year head coach of the Lincoln Red Raiders.
He'll be with us in the first hour of the program.
And then in our number two, we'll be talking to DC upper senior Xavier Edwards.
He is a multi sport athlete.
He plays football, plays basketball.
Also on the track and field team.
He is going to be playing college football and participating in track and field at the college level starting next year at Minnesota State Mankato.
And we'll talk to him about a lot of different things as well.
So again, Mike.
Friends from Wisconsin Rapids and Xavier Edwards from DC, our guest tonight.
Six till eight PM, the big high school sports show right here on 98.9 WXCO, online at wxco.fm mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
Start of a busy few days of high school athletics because tomorrow and Friday, we have high school football.
Why do we do that because I tell you I got a I got a very long drive coming up on Friday Ali has a long drive over to a Florence tomorrow.
Yeah, why do we do this and especially you know so many games?
It's because
we are very very proud to be the only local was our radio station that That covers play-by-play action of high school sports
absolutely
very proud to keep
Doing that well into the future.
Yep, but we need the support of our sponsors and right now we're struggling a little bit and I have to admit that Some hard decisions will be have to be made unless we are able to get a few sponsors I mean our sponsorship is right now not at the level it needs to be and if you're somebody that appreciates our coverage of high school athletics We would love to talk to you
Let you know that there's different options.
There's different ways to support.
That's right.
And we have flexible ideas.
But the bottom line is, without the support of our advertisers and our listeners, we will not be able to continue this.
And as I said, we're frankly at the point we're going to have to start making some very difficult decisions.
And if you're somebody that would like to make sure that our coverage of high school athletics continues into the future, please contact
You can reach out to us through our website, through an email or message.
You can send a message through our social media.
You can reach out to me directly.
So again, if you're somebody that would be interested in just talking about the possibilities of sponsorship, please reach out.
And by the way, tomorrow, a twin bill, Wausau West, will be taking on Superior.
I will be at Tom Field for that one.
630 pregame right here on 98.9 WXCO, online at WXCO.fm, mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
On the Sports2Stream, live at 6.40 tomorrow, it will be Newman, Catholic and Florence.
Again, that will be on the Sports2Stream of WXCO.fm and the Civic Media app and on tape delay following the West Game on 98.9 WXCO.
And then on Friday, we will have the
Wassa East Lumberjacks in action at Westby.
And we'll have coverage of that one starting at 640 for the pregame and seven o'clock for the opening kickoff.
So that's all coming up.
High school football, three games in the next two days here on 98.9 WXCO.
Very busy time.
Speaking of wins and losses, you are on quite a win streak here.
Last week you did very well and this week, what are you, two for two this week?
Two for
two, I got a chance
to...
Secure a successful week this week.
Well, you've already got a passing grade.
So no sweat off your brow for that.
It's a good start.
And now today, if you get it right, do a clincher winning week and also keep that dream of a perfect week alive.
Oh, that would be nice.
All right.
Well, today's topic is radio.
Radio.
Radio.
Awesome.
Yep.
It's on this date, August the 20th of what year that the first commercial radio station, which is now WWJ in Detroit, began operation.
The first commercial radio station that came into being on this date in what year?
Your choices are 1900, 1910, 1920.
1900, 1910,
1920.
Yep.
So commercial commercial radio station WWJ in Detroit hit the airwaves on August the 20th of what year 1900, 1910 or 1920.
Okay.
Okay, focus here.
I'm gonna
say
two for two this week.
Yep.
I'm gonna say the first radio station came around in 1910.
I'm gonna say 1910 is my final answer.
First commercial radio station, WWJ in Detroit came into a bean in 1920.
Oh, the 20s.
Yep, 1920.
But you're still two for three.
It's still pretty good.
You have to get that winning week tomorrow, right?
Yes.
Get it right tomorrow.
Indeed.
All right, we'll have a good rest of your
And we'll be back at 6 for the Big High School Sports Show here on 98.9 WXCO.
